Alexander and The Terrible, Horrible No Good Very Bad Day

 One of my favorite books of all time!  If I could afford original art, then I would buy the sketch for the page, “I think I’ll move to Australia”.

Author: Judith Viorst 
Illustrator: Ray Cruz
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (1972)
Prices: Paperback - $6.00, eBook - $6.99
Reading level: 1 to 9 Years Old
Interest level: Middle Grades
Physical Characteristics: 10 x 7.5 inches, 32 pages
ISBN: 0689711735 
Genres: Children’s Fiction

Subjects:
Growing Up
Emotions and Feelings
Humorous Stories
Bad Luck
Moods

Annotation: 
Alexander is just having one of those days when everything seems to be going wrong.

Summary:

Alexander starts his horrible day with gum stuck in his hair.  From there on one bad thing happens after another. Alexander tries to get sympathy from his family but he gets no sympathy.  Alexander starts to think maybe bad things happen to him.  He believes that if he moved to Australia then all the horrible things would not happen to him.  After he pays attention to the people and the things around him, he realizes sometimes bad days happen to all people… even in Australia.

Evaluation:
I have often felt like Alexander, and as an adult I find myself turning to this book for comfort.  I have yet to share it with my daughter and think she too will dig it.  I think it is a Universal feeling, having a crappy day.  The way Ms. Viorst tells the story is great.  Some pages have very little text for effect and some have more.  She uses her illustration and her text blocks so well!  Ray Cruz’ black and white illustrations are amazing.  The hair and the disheveled clothes of Alexander make me feel very understood.

Similar Titles or Authors:
My Mama Says There Aren’t Any Zombies, Ghosts, Vampires, Creatures, Demons, Monsters, Fiends, Goblins or Things by Judith Viorst
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf

Websites:
http://authors.simonandschuster.com/Judith-Viorst/707395

http://books.simonandschuster.com/Alexander-and-the-Terrible-Horrible-No-Good/Judith-Viorst/9781481414128
 
Awards & Recognition:
ALA Notable Children’s Book
George G. Stone Center Recognition of Merit
Georgia Children's Book Award
Reading Rainbow Book

Professional Reviews:
Kirkus

School Library Journal

All images (c) Ray Cruz